Cash-register.



PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

T. CARROLL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 4, 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

a 1 1 :86 C c him z. MM m w 3 No. 789,527. PATENTED MAY 9, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENT-ED MAY 9, 1905.

T. GARRGLL.

CASH REGISTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1903.

3 S IS-SHEET 3.

Patented May 9, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS CARROLL, OF DAYTON, OHlO, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL CASH REGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY ClTY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEWV JERSEY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,527, dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed June 4, 1908. Serial No. 160,023.

To (LZZ 1077,0772, 1115 may concern.-

Be it known that 1, THoMAs CARROLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of which 1 declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in cash-registers, and has more particular relation to improvements in registers of the type illustrated in the patents to Smith and Giles, No. 677,896, issued July 9, 1901, and A. Pfal'f, No. 721,916, issued March 3, 1903.

One of the several objects of the invention is to provide means whereby the counter may be thrown out without leaving the machine open to manipulation; but this feature is not made the subject of claims herein.

Another object is to provide means whereby the action of the check-printing devices will be automatically suspended for such transactions as do not require a check.

The invention also has certain other objects, which will hereinafter be made ap iarent.

1n the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section through a machine of the class mentioned with my improvements applied thereto, the cabinet of the machine and the cash-drawer being omitted. Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of the same, showing the printing mechanism. Fig. 3 represents a detail front elevation of the special setting-lever and the connecting parts for throwing out the check mechanism. Fig. at represents a detail side elevation of the notched operating-cam and one of the throw-out devices shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 represents a detail side elevation of the operating-handle and the gearing connected thereto. Fig. 6 represents a detail side elevation of the latching device for holding the longitudinal movable shaft shown in Fig. 3 in position, and Fig. 7 represents a detail side elevation of the throwout lever and the actuating-lever therefor.

In the said drawings, 1 represents the frame of the machine; 2, the indicators; 3, the registering-wheels; Lthe register-operating racks, and 5 the operating crank-handle.

As many of the parts shown in connection with the present invention are fully illustrated and described in the above-mentioned patents, reference is hereby made to these patents for any desired detailed description of the several parts which are not hereinafter suliiciently given. Described in general terms, however, the machine may be said to comprise a series of pivoted setting-levers, which when operated determine the positions of the indicators 2 and 2" and also the positions of the counter-operating racks which are caused to assume positions limited by the setting-lever by means of coil-springs 6, which connect said racks to suitable stationary parts. The counting-wheels 3 are mounted in a movable frame 7, which is normally thrown into the position shown in Fig. 1 by a coil-spring S, which connects a rearwardly-projecting arm of said frame to the main frame. The pinions of the counterwheels, as shown in Fig. 1, are normally out of mesh with the operatingracks at and are only brought into mesh when the frame 7 is rocked forward and downward. This rochingof the frame is accomplished by cams 9, fast to the rock-shaft 10, which supports the several setting-levers and rack-segments. The cams 9 engage rollers 11, mounted near the lower ends of pendent arms 12, forming part of the frame 7. By this construction the rocking of the shaft 10 in the manner hereinafter described will cause the cams 9 to force the rollers 11 rearward and upward, and thus rock the frame 7 and bring the counter-pinions into engagement with the racks 4. Each of the rack-segments L is provided with a laterally-projecting pin 13, which is arranged to be struck by an arm 14, pro jecting from the shaft 10, to return the racksegment to its normal position after it has been set, and thus effect the registration. The settinglevers which control the respective rack-segments a are provided with suitable vertically-extending rack-bars, which mesh with the indicator pinions to control the movements of the latter.

In machines of the class mentioned which are at present upon the market when it is desired. to suspend the operation of the registering devices the segments 4: are restrained or latched intheir normal positions, and thus prevented from taking up positions according to the positions of the setting-levers. This construction results in no registration taking place. Describing this throw-out feature more in detail, each of the segments 1 is provided with a laterally-prejecting pin 15. Each of these pins is arranged to be normally engaged by one of a series of hook-arms 16, mounted upon a transverse rock-shaft 17. By this construction it results that when any one of the setting-levers is moved its corresponding rack-segment 4 will remain stationary and will only be released and allowed to take up a position in contact with the settinglever after the operating-handle 5 has passed through a predetermined portion of its movement. To accomplish this result, the shaft 17 is provided with a crank-arm 18, to which is pivotally connected the forward end of an operatinglink 19. This link, as best shown in Figs. 1 and 7, is formed at its rear end with a hook 20, having a beveled upper surface 21 and a rearwardly-extending arm 22, to which the lower end of a coil-spring 23 is attached. The upper end of this spring is secured to a lever 24:, which is pivoted upon the main frame, as at 25, and is provided at its lower end with a laterally-projecting pin 26, that forms a stop for the upward movement of the lever 19. The upper end of the lever 24 is beveled, as at 27, and is arranged to be engaged and forced rearward by a cam 28, mounted upon a rotation-shaft 529, which will be hereinafter more particularly described.

The parts above described are shown in Fig. 1 in their normal positions. 1f the shaft 29 be now rotated by the operation of the handle 5, the lever 24: will be rocked and the pin 26 will pass under the hook 20 and force the link 19 forward. This movement will rock the shaft 17 and disengage all of the hooks 16 from the pins 15, thus allowing the segments 4 to be moved by their springs 6 and take up positions corresponding with the positions of their respective setting-levers.

The operation as above described only takes place when a cash transaction is to be registered, indicated, and printed. \V hen the transaction is of a different naturesuch as money received on account, paid out, or chargeit is necessary to prevent the segments a being released, and to accomplish this result the lever 30, which controls the special transactions, is provided near its rear end with a pin 31, which when the lever is moved out of its cash position (shown in Fig. 1) will engage and depress the link 19, so that when the lever 2st is sub sequently rocked the pin 26 will pass idly over the top of the hook 20 and the link 15) will not be reciprocated. The hooks 16 will thus remain over the pins 15 and the raek-segn'ients 1 will remain in their normal positions irrespective of any previous adjustment of their respective setting-levers. The lever 30 is only intended to control the special transactions and for this purpose is only capable of adjustment to four different positions, representing, respectively, cash, received on account, paid out, and charge. As before stated, the lever is shown in Fig. 1 in its normal or cash position with the link 19in its normal operative position. \Vhen the lever 30 is moved to any of its three positions, the pin 31 is necessarily depressed and the link 19 moved down so far as to bring its hook 20 free of the pin 26. At such times as when the lever 30 is adjusted to either of its three upper positions no registration will take place, and the respective indicators will show the amount of the transaction, together with a special word or character designating the peculiar kind of transaction that has taken place.

W'ith the construction above described it is possible to raise the level-slightly, so as to depress the link 19 suflieiently to bring the beveled face 21 of the nose 20 in a position to be engaged by the pin 26. A slight movement of the operating-handle will then cause the pin 26 to pass slightly over the surface 21 and will thus prevent the return of the link 19 to its normal position should it be otherwise released by the lever 30 being again forced down into its cash position. Such an operation would result in a cash transaction being indicated to the customer and no amount being added on the counter. This would of course defeat the purpose of the register and render the same absolutely useless. To overcome this defect, which exists in the machine at present upon the market, 1 have devised my present improvements, which consist in providing a device to prevent any movement of the lever 30 after the movement of the lever 2 has been commenced. This device comprises a notched plate 32, mounted upon the rack-bar 33, which is pivoted to the rear of the lever 30 and operates the special indicator 2 for the special transactions. The notches in the bar 32 are so arranged that after the lever 30 has been moved to any position the slightest movement of the levers 24 will cause the pin 26 to enter one or the other of said notches, and thus lock said lever 30 securely in this position. This construction will effectually prevent the manipulation of the machine above described and will complete the indication of the character of the transaction which should accompany the throwing in or the throwing out of the counter.

The earin for rotatin the shaft 29 and D h b oscillating shaft 10 is fully illustrated in Fig. 5. The crank handle 5 carries a gear 35, which meshes with two gears 36 and 37, suitably journaled upon the side frame. The gear 36 in turn meshes with a gear 38, fast to the protruding end of the shaft 29, whilethe gear 37 meshes with a gear 39, fast to the protruding end of a printer-operating shaft 40, which projects from one side of the machine to the other. The gear 37 is connected by a link 41 to a crank-arm 4E2, mounted upon the protruding end of the shaft 10, whereby the rotary movements of the crank-handle 5 are converted into oscillatory movements of said shaft 10.

Each of the registering or adjusting levers is provided with a segmental pendent rack 43, these racks meshing with pinions 44, mounted upon theinner ends of a series of nested sleeves 45. Each of the sleeves 4:5 is provided at its outer end with a type-wheel 4:6.

The printing mechanism is constructed for the printing of both a detail-strip and a check. The detail-strip mechanism is all mounted upon a movable pivoted frame 4.7, which is provided at its rear end with an operatingpin 48. This pin 48 projects into a cam-groove 4L9 of a box-cam 50, which is best shown in Fig. 3, and is mounted upon the outer end of a short sleeve 51, which is journaled upon a stud 52, fast to the main frame. The sleeve 51 is provided with a gear 53 and a pendent guiding-flange 54, said gear engaginga pinion 55, which is mounted loosely upon a short shaft 56. The pinion 55 meshes with a gear 57, fast to the outer end of the rotary shaft tO, which projects through the machine.

It will be seen from the above that the devices for actuating the printing upon the detail-strip are operated upon each operation of the machine irrespective of what operation may take place in connection with the checkprinting devices hereinafter described. These check-printing devices, which may be of any desired construction, but are preferably of the construction shown in the drawings and which is covered by one of my copending applications, are all driven or actuated through the.

medium of the shaft 56, and when the action of this shaft is suspended the issuing and printing of checks will also be suspended. This operation is accomplished in the following manner: The inner end of the shaft 56 is provided with a pinion 60, which meshes with agear-wheel 61,fast to a short sleeve 62, journaled on the shaft 40. The sleeve 62 carries a disk 63, upon which is pivoted a springpressed pawl 641:, as best shown in Fig. 1. The pawl 6 T is formed with a locking-nose and an operating-pin 66. The nose of the pawl is arranged to enter a locking recess 67, formed in a disk 68, which is fast to the shaft 4:0. \Vhen the pawl 64L is free, the nose 65 is forced into the recess 67, and the gear 61 is thus locked to rotate with the shaft &0 and cause the operation of the checkprinting devices. hen the pawl 64 is held in the position shown in Fig. 1, however, the shaft 40 rotates freely without imparting any movement to the gear 61, and the check-printing devices thus remain inactive.

The devices remain in the l position shown in Fig. 1 during the regular cash transactions when it is not desired to issue checks. This condition is represented. by the position of the lever 30 shown in Fig. 1; but when said lever is moved to either one of its three upper positions the pawl 6a is released and allowed to engage the disk 68 to lock the parts together. This result is accomplished by a pin 69, mounted upon the lower end of the rack-segment L3 of the lever 30. hen the lever is in its normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) the pin 69 contacts with a flange 70, mounted on a pivoted lever 71, and holds said lever rearward. The lever 71 is mounted upon a second pivoted lever 72. which is provided at its lower end with a flange 73, projecting above the pin 66 and forcing said pin downward when the lever 30 is in the position shown in Fig. 1. Vhenever the lever 30 is moved out of this cash position, however, the pin 69 passes forward, and thus releases the flange 70 of all pressure. This operation leaves the lever 7 2 free to turn upon its pivot and the pawl 6 f free to assume its normal locking position under the impulse of its spring. \Vhen the parts have been thus released, the check-printing mechanism becomes coupled up positively with the shaft 4:0, and the checks will issue for all special transactions represented by the three upper positions of the lever 30. As it is desirable, howew er, at times to issue checks upon all transactions, whether they represent cash or any of the special transactions, I provide means for destroying the operative relations of the pin 69 and the flange 70. This means comprises a depressible key 75, which is connected by a link-bar 76 with a forward end of the lever 71. \Vhen this key is forced inward, the rear end of the lever 71 is elevated, and thus moved out of the pin 69. The lever 72 is then free to oscillate, and thus allow the pawl 6% to engage the disk 68. The key 75 projects through an aperture 77, formed in the main frame, and is guided by a pin 78, which passes through an elongated slot 79, formed in the key. A coil-spring connects the key to the main frame to normally draw said key into its upper position. The keyshank, however, is provided with a notch 81, so that when the key is depressed it may be forced rearward slightly to cause the slot of the aperture 77 to enter said notch and latch the key in its lower position.

I have described above devices for automatically securing checks for the three special transactions and a further means for securing checks for all transactions when desired. These means, however, only involve constructions for preventing the issue of checks upon cash transactions, and as it is sometimes desirable to prevent the issue of checks alto gether for any transactions I provide means for disconnecting the shaft 56 from the checkprinting mechanism. This means comprises a longitudinallymovable shaft 82, formed l tions, with no checks for the cash transacwith a recess 83 at one end and into which the end of the shaft 56 projects. The shaft 56 is provided with two rotary projecting pins 84:, which are arranged to normally project into notches 85, formed on the end of the shaft 82, and thus couple the shafts together. The cam 50 is provided witha notched flange 86. (Best shown in Fig. 4.) After the movement of the cam 50 has commenced the flange 86 passes into an annular channel 87, formed on the end of the shaft 82, and thus locks the latter against any longitudinal movement. when the parts arein their normal positions, however, (shown in Fig. 1,) the notched portion of the flange 86 lies opposite the shaft 82, and the latter may be moved longitudinally to disengage it from the pins 84. As a portion of the checkprinting mechanism is through the medium of the shaft 82, the disengagement of this shaft from the shaft 56 will discontinue the action of the check-printing devices, as the shaft 56 will then rotate without affecting the shaft 82. The outer end of the shaft 82 is provided with a milled thumb-knob 89, whereby it may be moved longitudinally to disengage it from the shaft 56 at will. The shaft 82 carries an operating-pinion 90, which is arranged to engage an operating-gear 91, mounted on the end of one of the printing-drums 92, which is geared to the remainder of the check-printing mechanism.

As before stated, the inner end of the shaft 82 is supported by the shaft 56. The outer end of this shaft 82, however, is journaled in the side frame 93 of the machine and is provided with two annular grooves 94 and 95. Vhen the parts are in their normal positions, (shown in Fig. 3,) a spring-messed pivoted handle 96, mounted on the side frame, projects into the annular groove 94, and thus locks the shaft 82 against longitudinal movement. IVhen it is desired to disengage the shaft 82 from the shaft 56, the lever 96 is first rocked upon its pivot to disengage it from the walls of the groove 94. The shaft 82 may then move longitudinally to disengage it from the shaft 56, and this action brings the groove 95 into alinement with the lever 96. Upon the latter being released it enters said groove 95 and locks the shaft 82 in its adjusted position. The aforesaid gear 91 is provided upon one side with a guarding-disk 97, formed with two notches, which when the parts are in their normal positions register with the gear or pinion 90, and thus permit the latter to be moved to the left With the shaft 82.

The above-described construction results in the pinion 9O properly reengaging the gear 91 after it has been disengaged from the same.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the tape-printing attachment is operative at all times, while the check-printing attachment may be so adjusted as to give checks automatically for the special transactions. The parts may be also adjusted to give checks for all transactions, either special or cash. Further, the adjustments are such that the printing of checks may be suspended altogether at will and irrespective of the posi tions of the connections controlling the automatic issuing of checks.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a differentiallyadjustable setting element, a printing mechanism including a type-carrier controlled by said setting element, means connecting the operat in n'iechanism and printing mechanism, and devices controlled by the setting element for breaking the connection between said printing mechanism and operating mechanism, when said setting element occupies a certain one of its adjustable positions.

2. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, clutch devicesintermediate the operating mechanism and the printing mechanism, a special differentially-adjustable setting de vice, and a special type-carrier connected with said special setting device, and means controlled by said setting device for actuating the clutch when said setting device occupies a certain one of its adjustable positions.

3. .In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a rotary shaft, of a printing mechanism including actuators for a tape-printer and a checlcprii'iter, means for connecting said shaft permanently to the tape-printer actuator, a clutch connection between the shaft and the check-printer actuator, a special differentially -:uljustable setting element, a special type-carrier connected with said setting element, and means connected with said setting element for controlling said clutch connection, when said setting element occupies a certain one of its adjustable positions.

1. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of printing mechanisms,.a clutch connection between said mechanisms, a special setting element controlling said clutch connection, and a special setting device for ln'eaking the connection between the clutch and the special setting element and rendering the latter ineffective to perform its regular function.

5. In a cash-register, the combination with an operatingmechanism, of a printing mechanism, means connecting the two mechanisms including a pivoted pawl-clutch, a special setting element movable to different positions, and means operated by said element when in one position to actuate said pawl-clutch.

6. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, means intermediate the two mechanisms including a clutch, clutch-operating devices, and a pivoted lever arranged to engage and actuate said clutch-operating devices.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mech anism, means connecting the two mechanisms and including two shafts which are normally coupled together, and means for moving one of said shafts longitudinally to disconnect it from its companion shaft.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, means intermediate said mechanisms and including two independent clutches, a spe cial setting element operating one of said clutches, and independent devices for operating the remaining clutch.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, means intermediate the two mechan isms including two clutches, a special setting elem ent controlling one of said clutches, a special key for suspending the control of this setting element from its clutch, and an inde pendent device for controlling the remaining clutch.

10. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, means connecting the two mechanisms including a clutch, and a pivoted lever movable to different positions for different transactions and controlling said clutch according to its movements.

11. In a caslrregister, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing meel anism, means connecting the two mechanisms including a clutch, a special setting-lever movable to difl'erent positions, means for operating the clutch engaged by said lever when in one position but free of the same when it is adjusted to any of its remaining positions.

12. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, connecting means intermediate the two mechanisms including two independentlymovable shafts, clutch devices between said shafts, means for moving one of the shafts to disengage it from the companion shaft, and a latching device for securing the movable shaft in its adjusted positions.

13. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism, of a printing mechanism, means connecting the two mechanisms and including two shafts which are normally coupled together, means for moving one of said shafts longitudinally to disconnect it from its companion shaft, and means for maintaining the relative positions of the two shafts after the initial movement of the operating mechanism.

14:. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a revoluble shaft, of a printing mechanism including a revoluble operating-gear for the same; a pawl for establishing a positive connection between said gear and said revoluble shaft; a disablinglever for engaging said pawl to disestablish said connection; a second lever carried by said disengaging-lever; a setting element having an abutment for engaging said second lever and thereby controlling the disengaging-lever; and a special key connected with said second lever for controlling the operative relation between said element and said second lever.

15. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism including a revoluble shaft, cooperating with gearing connected with an auxiliary operating-shaft; of a sleeve surrounding said auxiliary shaft and having a notch-and-pin connection therewith; a gear fast upon said shaft and cooperating with a printingmechanism to operate the same; manipulative means for adjusting said sleeve upon said auxiliary shaft to make or break the connection of the former with the latter; and a locking-disk connected with the operating mechanism for locking the sleeve in posi tion after theinitial movement of the operating mechanism.

16. In a cash-register, the combination with an operating mechanism and a printing mechanism, of an adjustable means for effecting the actuation of the printing mechanism upon certain operations of the operating mechanism but discontinuing such actuation of the print ing mechanism upon other operations of the operating mechanism; means for disabling the said adjustable means to permit the actuation of the printing mechanism upon all of the operations of the operating mechanism; and means for discontinuing the actuation of the printer regardless of the adjustment of either or both of the aforesaid means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS CARROLL.

\Vitnesses:

J. B. HAYWARD, PEARL N. Sienna. 

